Washing machine



July 21, 1936- R. J. WATERWORTH WASHING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1932 4 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT J. WATERWORTH.

ATTORNEYS July 21, 1936.

R. J. WATERWORTH WASHING MACHINE Fileli June 27, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTOR R085 T J1 WA TERWUR TH.

ATTORNEYS R. J. WATERWORTH 2,048,306

July 21, 1936.

WASHING MACHINE Filed June 27, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 3 8 f 4 5 H 6 l am 6% w #0 n 9 6 5 y 0 aL r m 7 m 0 9 we v 6 m, 9U 3 INVENTOR ROBERT J. WATE/FWORTM ATTORNEY$ Patented July 2 1, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE j WASHING MACHINE Application June 27, 1932, Serial No. 619,433

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and has'for its object to provide, in connection with a washing machine, an improved means for driving the spinner or ex- 5 tractor, together with means for resiliently and yieldingly mounting the extractor tank so that during the operation of the washing machine it will not creep about on the floor or supporting surface. I

10 It is also an object of this invention to provide as part of a spinner or extractor unit, an extractor basket which has therein a perforated lining, spaced from the walls of the basket and supported in this condition by the basket.

15 It is particularly the objectof this invention to provide, in connection with the spinner or extractor unit, a basket having a strainer lining supported at its upper edge by the edge of the basket, and attached to the basket at its lower 20 edge at a plurality of spaced points.

It is also an object of this invention to provide, in connection with a washing machine, a motor for operating the moving parts of the machine,

and a simple and eflicient means for supporting 35 from the extractor unit and conveying it to the tub and for draining the water from the tub, and also from the extractor unit.

These and other advantages and objects will appear from the following description taken in '40 connection with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the washing machine showing the operating mechanism for oscillating the oscillator and rotating the 45 spinner basket.

Figure 2. is a bottom plan view with the gear case housing removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the dolly and the dolly standard.

5 Figure 4 is a vertical sectionthrough the spinner unit showing the mechanism by which the basket is rotated, and means for clutching and unclutching the basket.

V Figurefiisasectionon the'lineHofl'lg- The present washing machinehas a chasslsor base composed of a base plateor support member I, having a peripheral downwardly extending flange 2. This base with its flange are supported-- by legs I, each of which has on its lower end a 5 caster I. These legs are braced by means of a brace S. The base plate or support is in the form of a sheet metal table, which. supports at one end a tub 6.

Extending through the bottom of the tub and the base plate or chassis is a hole 1. Supported on the bottom of the tub is a stem or standard I, which has at its bottom an outwardly extending circular flange 9 restingupon the bottom of the tub and attached to the bottom of the tub and the base plate by means of screws ill, Located around the standard about midway between the flange 9 and the top of the standard is a shoulder II,- which supports a lower agitator bearing l2, composed of some suitable flbrous material. Adjacent the upper end of the standard is a second agitator hearing it, composed of the same or similar material.

Extending through the bearing l3 and through the wall of the standard are pins it for holding i the bearing on the standard. Engaging the lower edge of the upper agitator bearing is a pilot screw It, which passes through one part of a dolly 28.

Resting on top of the standard is an agitator supporting washer it, which has resting thereon to the bottom of a lower clutch i1, held by a pin ll through the upper end of a shaft it. Cooperating with the lower clutch member is an upper clutch member 20, which has a shoulder 2| thereon adapted to engage the under side of a shoulder a clutch cap 28, held on the clutch member by means of a screw 21. In the upper end of the upper clutch member is an annular hole, which seats a spring 21a between the bottom of the hole and the clutch cap. v

The agitator or dolly 28, which is bell-shaped, fits over the top of the-standard, and the shaft located in the standard is supported on the upper end of the clutch member and has thereon, on the inside, a shoulder 29 adapted to be engaged by the shoulder 2! to limit the upward The other end of this spring 24 en. 40

movement of the upper clutch member. This dolly or agitator is supported on the supporting washer is by means of a shoulder 30, located on the inside of the dolly or agitator, below the shoulder 29.

In the upper end oi the dolly is a notch 3|, and below this notch is a hole 82. When the upper clutch member is out of engagement with the lower clutch member the ball 23 projects into the notch 3| and tends to hold the cap in position such as that shown in Figure 3. When the upper clutch member is in engagement with the lower clutch member the ball 23 partly projects into the hole 32 so that the clutch members are held in engagement with one another tor operating the dolly through the operation of the shaft. This ball has a snap action between the notch 3i and the hole 32. The clutch mechanism is operated by an upward or downward movement of the clutch cap 26. v

The lower end of the dolly is bell-shaped, as indicated by the numeral 83, and has on its lower end a downwardlgextending-circular flange 3%. mendingradially outwardly from the dolly or agitator is a plurality of vanes 85, each of which has on its periphery a bead 36.

Between the standard and shaft adjacent the bearing i3 is an inner bearing 3?, whichhas holes 38 therein adjacent the pins it for holding a lubricant. Immediately above the bearing is andbelow the supporting washer is is a cavity or chamber 38a adapted to contain a lubricant. In fact, all of the space {mm the lower bearing p to the clutch members maybe filled with a lubricant. The bearings are termed of a fibrous material that will absorb and hold the lubricant so that frequent lubrication is unnecessary.

Immediately below the standard and supported on the base beneath the standard, and attached to the base by means of the screws i8, is a housing 39. In fact, these screws pass through the flange 9, the bottom of the tub and the base plate into a flange on the upper periphery of the housing. The base plate has attached thereto a plate 48 by means of supporting bolts 4!. Substantially in the center of this plate 40 is an upwardly extending boss 42, which has a circular hole therethrough for receiving a bearing 63. This baring is composed of the same fibrous material that is used in connection with the other bearings. This bearing serves as a bearing for the lower end of the shaft is. i

There is also on this plate 50 a boss 416, which q has an opening therein to rceiveone end of a bolt it, the other end of which bolt supports a rotating gear 46. Adjacent one end of this plate there is another boss 47, through which passes a shaft 48 surrounded by a bearing se or fibrous material. Cooperating with the bearing -49 for supporting the shaft 48 is another boss 50, which hasa bearing 53, located in a gear case M attached to the plate 40 by means oi screws 52,

On the upper end 0! the shalt 48 is a pulley 54 adapted to operate the gear mechanism located within the gear case, and to oscillate the shaft l9 and the dolly carried thereby. The lower end or the shaft 48 is located in the bearing 53. Interaosasoe below the we: 1.1 68. when this quadrant oscillates it causes the shaft IE to oscillate through the pinion 59. mtending from a pin 6| on the quadrant to a pin 82 on the gear 46, is a link 60. By means of this link the rotation of the gear 46 will transmit to the quadrant an oscillating movement, which also conveys to the shaft l 9, through the pinion 58, an oscillating movement.

Located on the shaft l8 and substantially even with the flange 9, is a deflector '83. The periphcry of the tub is lower than the centerand has therein, at one point, a circular depression 64 with a hole in the bottom of the depression. Engaging the under side of the depressed part of the bottom is an elbow or spout 65. The upper end of this spout, which engages the depressed part 02 the bottom, is shaped or flanged out to conform to the shape 01 the bottom of the tub around the hole, as indicated by the numeral 66.

fir clamping the drain spout or elbow to the bottom of the tub there is provided a strainer 81, which is threaded into the upper end of the spout or elbow adjacent the flanges 66. There is also provided in this strainer a screw 58 for enthereof. The other branch 16 extends horizontal- 1y from the spout from a point opposite where the arm 72' extends. These arms so extend from the spout that when the valve is closed no water can 1 get from the tub into either of them, but when the valve is open the water in the tub may pass into either arm. If the cap 73 is oil the water will pass out at the arm I2.

This branch it is connected by means of a hose 75 to a pump it, which is supported by means of a bracket 76a attached to the flange at one side of the base or chassis. This pump is composed of a casing which has two inlet pipes, one 11 to which one end of the hose i5 is attached, and the other 88. The pump has one outlet pipe 18, to which one end of a hose I9 it attached. This hose has on its otherend a goose neck 19a to hook over the upper edge of the tub through which water may be pumped into the tub from some other part of the washing machine. The inlet pipe as is connected to .a pipe or elbow 8i by means of a hose coupling 82. This elbow 9i is similar in all respects to elbow except that it has no branches. It is supported in the bottom of a tank 83 in the same manner that the elbow 65 is supported in the bottom of the tub. Thistankflisaspinnertahkandislocated on top of the chassis or support. Between the bottom 01 the tank and the adjacent part of the chassis or support is a gasket 88 composed of some suitable resilient material. This tank is attached to the tub by some resilient. means 84. as shown inFigure l.

Extending up through a hole in the base or chassis and through a hole in the center of the 7 bottom 0! the tank, is a cylindrical spinner mount 85. This spinner mount has a vertically ext. nding circular opening therein, the purpose of which will be later described. At the lower end 0! ,this

spinner mount is an outwardly extending circular l5 of the of holding these gaskets and the support and the bottom of the tank in close fitting engagement with each other there is provided on the spinner mount a nut 98. This nut is threaded against the upper gasket and presses the gaskets and the bottom of the tub on the support.

Within the spinner mount is a porous bearing M, which forms with the mount an oil chamber I08. Extending up through this bearing and supported thereby is a shaft 92. This shaft has on its lower end a collar 93. Above the collar 83 is a clutch sleeve 92, which is loosely mounted upon the shaft for vertical movement by means of a Woodrufi or other suitable key 88. By means of this key the shaft and sleeve rotate together, but

the sleeve may move longitudinally of the shaft. Between the sleeve and the collar 88 is a spring 96, tending to force the sleeve upward.

Attached to the lower end of the clutch sleeve 85 is a fork plate 91, which has thereon a lower fork disc 88 and an upper fork disc 89. The upper end of the clutch sleeve is formed into a clutch plate I88, which has mounted thereon a clutch disc I82. The clutch sleeve immediately adjacent the clutch plate I 00 is hollowed out and has therein, around the shaft, a collar IOI.

This collar serves to support and prevent the downward movement of a pulley I03. freely rotatable on the shaft 82. This pulley is prevented from moving upwardly on the shaft 92 by means of a collar Int. Thispulley is provided adjacent the shaft with a porous hearing I 031), which forms with the pulley one wall of an oil chamber Iota. This oil chamber is formed in the interior of the pulley I83, around the bearing I881).

Located somewhat spaced from the upper end of the bearing Si is a fourth collar lllli. between which and the upper end of the bearing 8! is a thrust bearing I05. The upper end of the shaft 92 has a notch I81 therein, the purpose of which will be later described. The upper part of the cylindrical spinner mount is hollow and provides an oil seal space I88. An oil chamber I88 is formed between the cylindrical spinner mount and the bearing 8|.

One of the novel features of this invention is the basket, which is composed of three parts, the basket bottom I I II, which has extending upwardly from the center thereof a cap III adapted to fit over the upper end of the shaft 82 and the upper end of the cylindrical spinner mount 85. The upper end of this cap has a pin II2 which fits in the notch I81 so that when the shaft 82 rotates the basket will rotate with it. The upper part of the spinner mount forms with the cap a lubricant chamber, such as IBM.

Around the periphery of the bottom of the basket is a plurality of holes H3, through which the water may pass into the tank. Another part of thespinner unit is the side walls IN of-the basket, attached to the bottom of the basket by means of rivets Illa. The upper edge of the basket is turned over and inwardly at H5 and forms an upper support for the third part of the spinner unit, which is a screen II8. This'screen is of the same general shape but of less diameter than the basket, both of which taper inwardly from the bottom toward the top so each is more or less in the shape of a truncated cone. The upper edge of the screen is supported by the inturned upper edge of the basket.

The lower edge of the screen has around it a clamping member II1. This clamping member is circular in shape and conforms to the size of the larger part of the screen. and is slightly less in diameter than the diameter of the basket at the point of the basket adjacent this clamp. The lower end of the screen is attached to the walls of the basket at four points by means of rivets II8.

Since the diameter of this clamp, which is normally circular in shape, is less than the diameter of the basket, theserivets tend to pull the part II1 out of its circular shape to a shape similar to that shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5 this screen is shown to be quadrilateral, with each side arcuate, and joined at their edges to the periphery of the basket so that at a point midway between the rivets this screen is at its greatest distance from the walls of the basket.

For operating the clutch sleeve and the clutch plate there is provided a clutch yoke H9 in the form of a lever pivoted at I20 to the lower end of the arm 81. This lever has extending upwardly therefrom adjacent the arm 81, an arm I2 I, which has in its-upper end a seat for a spring I22, which bears against one side of the arm 81 and tends to prevent rattling in the clutch yoke and to force the arm I2I away from the arm 81' so that the forked end of the lever is moved upwardly, thereby tending to hold the clutch disc I82 in engagement with the lower surface of the pulley I03. It is the lower surface of this pulley which serves as a second clutch member.

To the end of the lever opposite the yoke there is attached a clutch latch I28 by means of a link lat connected at one end to the clutch latch and at the other end to the lever by means of a bolt I25. 0n the upper end of the clutch latch there is a knob I28 for manipulating the latch. In one side of the latch there is a notch I21. This latch E23 is located in a hole in the chassis or base. Since the base is formed of sheet metal, when the latch is raised to a position so that the notch is opposite the edge of the hole the latch may be made to engage the base by moving the latch so that the base will fit in the notch.

Suitably supported on the bottom of the base or chassis is a motor I28, which has the usual motor shaft I 28. On this shaft is a pulley I30. In order to properly support the motor in relation-to the other parts of the operating mechapump shaft I35, provided at its upper end with a pulley I38. Passing around all of the pulleys'is a belt I81. This belt may be tensioned by adjustlng the motor in its bracket supports, and for the purpose of holding the motor in position and cause the belt to be in a condition of tension, a spring I38 is attached at one end to some suitable part of the motor or the platerwhile its other end is attached to the chassis on a flange extending downwardly therefrom.

The operating mechanism for the agitator is located within the housing and is operated by means of the large pulley 5t driven by the motor through the belt. This belt, driven by the motor,

also drivesthe pulley for rotating the spinner.

This same belt also engages the pulley for operating the pump. This eliminates the necessity for a large gear box and materially reduces the cost and the weight'of the machine.

One of the features of advantage in the present washing machine is the nature of the bearings. The bearings are composed of a fibrous material, and around these bearings, or most of them, and associated with the rotating parts, are 011 chambers or cavities. The oil in these cavities will ooze through or pass through the porousbearings into contact with all of the rotating elements. This will occur particularly after the lubricant becomes thin on account of warmth. This thinning and heating of the lubricant will cause it to expand and pass more readily through the porous bearings. After the machine has stopped the lubricant becomes cool, thereby contracting. This contraction will tend to create a vacuum in the lubricant chambers, thereby withdrawing the lubricant from the porous bearings so that the lubricant, substantially as a whole, is retained during the period of inoperation within the lubricant chambers.

- By means of the clutch mechanism the washer aoaasoa may be operated independent of the spinner and the spinner may be operatedindependent of the agitator.

It is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications as may be embraced with- 5 in the claims and the scope of the invention;

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a washing machine, a tank, a shaft extending into the tank, and a spinner unitsupported by the shaft in the tank, said spinner unit consisting of a basket having a perforated bottom and imperforate side walls that converge upwardly, and a screen of the same general shape 15 as the basket but lessin size supported at its upper edge by the edgeof the basket and having its lower edge attached to the basket at spaced points.

2. In a washing machine, a spinner unit com- 29 prising a rotatable basket and a screen in the basket of the same shape but of less diameter than the basket, said screen having around its lower edge a clamp member attached to the basket at spaced points, whereby the lower end of 25 the screen is distorted and drawn out of its true shape.

ROBERT J. WATERWORTH. 

